Up and away, 3D style with adidas 2017 hockey sticks

Its great to see that in 2017 adidas are recognising hockey as a real sport and it has it’s place on the main adidas website. Here’s the low down on adidas 2017 hockey sticks and all the available sticks with 2017 specifications.

There are 20 adidas hockey sticks in the 2017 range, seriously reduced from the amount of sticks adidas were putting out in 2015. They seem to have focused on a few choice sticks across the different shapes.

A few significant changes in 2017 adidas hockey sticks include an all new head shape for some models and the while there are less models of sticks from the adidas LX and TX shapes, there is an increase in CB model adidas sticks.

Slightly Lengthened Toe, thin heel with more rolled back of the head

New 3DHEAD shape on 2017 adidas hockey sticks

adidas’s new 3DHEAD hook shape is the significant feature change in the 2017 sticks. A strange looking and feeling head shape that can take a bit of getting used to.

For those of us who have the pleasure of following adidas and other brands ahead of releases of new sticks, they have made a big deal of this new head shape, claiming it’s an enhancement made with and for players.

Theory says this adidas 3DHEAD should help with 3D skills, which are of course part of the game of hockey now. The head on these sticks have a changed profile. They are much more rounded on the heel at the bottom of the shaft, thin and slightly leant backwards in the middle with an elongated toe.

You can see how the design of the 2017 3DHEAD has come around, I would massively recommend having a go with one before committing, it is significantly different to most adidas hockey stick heads of the past.

adidas 2017 hockey sticks with the new 3DHEAD

adidas 2017 DF24 CARBON hockey stick

adidas 2017 DF24 COMPO 1 hockey stick

adidas 2017 DF24 COMPO 6 hockey stick

adidas 2017 TX24 CARBON hockey stick

adidas 2017 V24 CARBON hockey stick

adidas 2017 LX24 CARBON hockey stick

adidas 2017 LX24 COMPO 1 hockey stick

adidas 2017 LX24 COMPO 2 hockey stick

adidas 2017 LX24 COMPO 3 hockey stick

adidas 2017 LX24 COMPO 5 hockey stick

adidas 2017 LX24 COMPO 5 hockey stick

Carbon-braid now standard and a plate for your mate

adidas were one of the first brands to promote the use of carbon-braided manufacturing technologies to create their best hockey sticks.

Like other brands, this process is used as standard to create the best adidas hockey sticks, included in any of the top of the range carbon models.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of playing with a hockey stick built with this technology will verify that they are ultra stiff and you can generate a lot of power when you give them a damn good smash.

Adding a plate in the back of the hockey stick is a novel idea for 2017, not seen this done anywhere else yet. The theory is to keep out any bend in the adidas hockey sticks with this feature.

Tiny amounts of bend obviously disparate power, just slightly, which can make fractional differences in power pushed through the ball.

Only the CARBON adidas 2017 hockey sticks have this carbon plate, which kind of makes sense. It does add a tiny bit of weight to these sticks but this is offset mainly by the fact they are full carbon, which is generally lighter.

A sensible price for the best adidas 2017 sticks

Over the past few seasons we have seen some, in my opinion, ridiculously over priced hockey sticks. Spending over 300GBP or 350EURO for a hockey stick is a bit silly.

I’m pleased to see in 2017 that adidas hockey have got a bit real with how much their best hockey sticks should cost. It’s still not exactly cheap, the 250Euro price tag is bearable for those of us who appreciate a good stick and are going to get plenty of use out of it.

What this 2017 range of hockey sticks from adidas is missing, in my opinion, is more middle priced hockey sticks. There is some choice, however a couple of seasons back there was more choice in the COMPO 3 & 4 price range. Seems there’s quite a few expensive sticks and quite a few cheap ones, with not a lot in the middle.

Women and Girls only! Boo adidas

I’ve commented before on adidas ‘W’ range of hockey sticks that were apparently designed just for women hockey players, what’s the point! Hockey players are hockey players and the needs of a gender don’t differ.

adidas have added 3 female specific hockey sticks in the 2017 range, apparently meeting the needs of female players. Looking that the specification they are no different to the equivalent non-female hockey sticks from the LX range. And unlike the old W24 sticks they aren’t even pink!

Still great sticks and for some reason you might choose them, they are a slightly different design. I refuse to add a separate section for them in the run down but they are marked up as ‘FLX24’ models. It’s not because I don’t think women are important, its because I think they are AS important as guys and shouldn’t be separated when it comes to hockey sticks.

Full run down of the adidas 2017 hockey sticks range

Shows the drag flick groove in the lower shaft of the DF24 Adidas hockey sticks

I was a little worried after the end of last season that adidas might actually be backing out of hockey. This 2017 range though is another evolution. I’m not sure how well the 3DHEAD will take off, however they are defiantly committed with so many models carrying the 3DHEAD in 2017.